The Pentecostal Mission | |
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ദി പെന്തിക്കോസ്ത് മിഷൻ பெந்தேகோஸ்தே மிஷன் පෙන්තකොස්ත සභාව | |
Abbreviation | CPM / TPM |
Classification | Christianity |
Orientation | Protestant |
Scripture | Bible |
Theology | Arminianism |
Polity | Episcopal |
Governance | Centralized leadership |
Structure | Hierarchical |
Chief Pastor | Pastor Abraham Mathew (current) |
Deputy Chief Pastor | Pastor M.T. Thomas |
Associate/ Deputy Chief Pastor | Pastor G.J. Jeyam |
Founder | Pastor Paul Ramankutty |
International Headquarters | irumbuliyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. |
Region | Worldwide |
Liturgy | Pentecostal |
Headquarters | Irumbuliyur, Chennai, India |
Origin | 1923 Sri Lanka |
Congregations | 3,000+ |
Members | 10,000,000+ |
Other name(s) | Ceylon Pentecostal Mission (CPM), Universal Pentecostal church , New Testament Church |
Publications | Voice of Pentecost (in english) |
The Pentecostal Mission (TPM), also known as New Testament Church (NTC) in the United States and Universal Pentecostal Church (UPC) in the United Kingdom, is a Pentecostal denomination established in 1923 in Colombo, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Its global headquarters is located in Irumbuliyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The organization operates churches in over 75 countries under various names and has more than 2,000 places of worship worldwide. Formerly called the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission (CPM), the denomination has grown to include millions of members. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The church was founded by Pastor Paul Ramankutty, who was born to Hindu parents in the district of Trichur in Kerala, India.
While in Sri Lanka, at the age of 18, he became a Christian. Later, he felt a strong call and began to preach and share the gospel. In 1923 he founded the church with the name Ceylon Pentecostal Mission.
Later, due to the civil war in Sri Lanka, all Indian assignments which were called CPM (Ceylon Pentecostal Mission) were changed to TPM (The Pentecostal Mission). CPM headquarters is at Mattakkuliya in Colombo, Sri Lanka and TPM headquarters is at Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. But for all purposes TPM church is known as both CPM and TPM interchangeably in many parts of the World. [5]
The congregation in Sri Lanka operates a school for secular studies known as C.P.M Faith School in Wattala in Colombo . There is also Faith school known as Christian school in Yonkers, New York and in Newark, New Jersey. There is also one Christian school in Africa.
The church is led by a Chief Pastor (currently Pastor Abraham Mathew). In addition, there is a Deputy Chief Pastor (currently Pastor M.T. Thomas) and an Associate Deputy Chief Pastor (currently Pastor G. Jeyam).
In the United States, most of the church work was pioneered by the late Pastor Don M Spiers, who had previously worked closely with Oral Roberts. [6] Pastor Gregg Wilson now heads the work in USA and countries around the USA. He is assisted by the sister-in-charge, Sister Lisa Billow.
Full-time ministers are expected to practice an ascetic lifestyle including celibacy, obedience to the elder pastors, and communal living (including disposal of private possessions) in faith homes.TPM churches are run by full-time ministers who are celibate and predominantly single. Married couples who enter full-time ministry must become celibate and may be sent to different locations by the TPM leadership if they so choose.
In other parts of the world, the church is known by the following names:
Other Branches
The doctrines of the church broadly align with trinitarian Pentecostalism. [7]
The doctrines of the church include: Trinity, New Birth, Water Baptism , Baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in unknown tongues, Separation , Divine Healing, Entire Sanctification (of the Body, Soul and Spirit), Overcoming Life, Consecrated Ministry, Rapture, Tribulation and Great Tribulation, Resurrection, The Millennial Reign, The Great White Throne Judgement, and Eternity.
Magazines are produced in several languages. The English language magazine published in India is called The Voice of Pentecost. Pilgrim's Journal is published and printed in the USA. Other English language magazines are Pentecostal Messenger from Malaysia, The Youth Herald from Singapore, Power Divine from Sri Lanka, and Trumpet of the Lord from the UK.
Church Magazines are being published in more than forty Indian languages and other foreign languages. Malayalam magazine Pentecost is one of the oldest Pentecostal magazines from Kerala. A Hindi edition of Pentecost Ki Wani published from New Delhi, a Tamil edition named Pentecost in Peroli from Irumbuliyur (Chennai), Pentecost-Chi Vaani from Mumbai, "Kadavari varshapu dwani" from Hyderabad, and Pentecost Da Sneha from Dhariwal (Punjab) are also produced
Current Leading Chief Pastors | ||
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No. | Photo | Name |
1 | Pastor. Sunil Abraham Mathew Chief Pastor | |
2 | Pastor. M. T. Thomas Deputy Chief Pastor | |
3 | Pastor. G. J. Jeyam Associate Deputy Chief Pastor |
List of late Chief Pastors | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Portrait | Name | Term | Deputy Chief Pastor | Associate/ Deputy Chief Pastor | |
1. | Pastor Paul Ramankutty 1880–1945 Founder & First Chief Pastor | 1923 – 1945 July 4 | Pastor Alwin R. De Alwis | Pastor Freddy Paul | ||
2. |
CPM may refer to:
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